Is it too late to uproot my avocado plant?
applefritter007
Posts: 9
I started an avocado plant indoors last year around May, and it has grown beautifully, but earlier this year it became sick from insects eating its roots (which I had no idea until I took a good look at it) and so I declared it dead, but rinsed its roots and planted it outside in my front yard "just in case". Anyway, after a few months and sunshine and water, it came back. Here is a pic.
It is now October and I am wanting to uproot it and place it in a pot to bring it back inside before winter comes. I read that avocado plants cannot tolerate cold temps, and where I live it can get down to lower 30's in winter.
My question is, would I harm the plant by trying to replace it? Are its roots too deep into the ground to dig it up without hurting it? This plant means a lot to me, and I want it to continue to grow. And if it is alright to uproot it, how should I go about it? How can I be careful not to hurt the roots?
Posts
I'd give it a go. Dig it with a large rootball and treat it gently. After all, if you leave it outside you're bound to lose it to the frost. This way at least it has a chance. Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I grew a plant from an avocado stone years ago( a cocktail stick through the stone suspended over water) it grow well indoors during the warm months reached about four feet in as many months, when it came time to put the central heating on it didn't like the dry atmosphere and it's leaves dried up and browned and eventually it lost all the leaves.
Any chance you can put yours in your bathroom ?
Good idea KEF
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Philippa I didn't know we could grow them as trees in UK
I grew mine for the novelty aspect.
Thanks for all the replies. Yesterday I dug it up and placed it in a big pot and brought it inside, where it is now sitting on the counter in my bathroom. It got down to 40 degrees last night over here so I knew I had to do something quick.
To my surprise the plant had grown many roots from the time it was outside, and I sadly broke many of them as I tried to dig it up, but a few small roots were saved. I hope I did not kill the plant. May sound stupid, but this plant has a lot of sentimental value for me. It would break my heart if it died. But we will wait and see
Applefritter - set some more avocado stones as soon as possible - then if the worst should happen, your heat won't be quite so broken.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.